I heard the that AT&T has an long standing agreement with Yahoo. So, that is why. But, I simply went to google.com, pushed the menu key on the right bottom of the screen, saved as a bookmark, exit out, and then push and hold on your home screen until "shortcuts" option comes up, select that, then select book marks, then select "google" and the shortcut will appear on your home screen from now on. One extra push on the screen to get the search bar to come up, but not bad. This is an amazing phone! So customizable that you can make it just about anything you want it to be. Tons of great free apps to chose from. I could go on for ever!

Installing an app from a memory card does NOT require rooting. If you want to run the app from memory card you would have to root it. I'm not sure if the backflip will allow this tho, first time i have heard about the phone not being able to download from "unknown source".

To back up your apps I would sugget "Appmanager" from developer zx128. You can save every app on your phone to you memory card unless the app is protected, in that case you would have to... do complicated things but you can still back it up.

Best thing to do is to wait for a "With Google" phone, if it says that on the back, you'll know that it is a 100% Google software, and not fck'd with by ATT. There are OTHER Android handsets on the way. SE X10 has a beautiful 4in screen.

I'm curious why do you want this phone? The only thing I could think of is your too patient to wait to see what the other !4! Android handsets are that ATT is getting in the first half of this year. I just don't get why someone would want a phone that is supposedly a "Google phone" but doesn't even have Google search, and the keyboard is deformed & backwards!

I have the backflip, and my wife and I both love it! It will be the only Android from AT&T with the Motoblur software. None of the other models AT&T is getting seem all that. I like the design with the touch pad on the back as well, it makes scrollong through pics, etc. easy. AT&T has a deal with Yahoo, so I believe they will all have AT&T based apps and search. It is AT&T that has to approve it on their network. The Backflip has every app i would ever want. I get to choose between AT&T apps and Google apps. Personally, my wife and I use Yahoo search more than Google. Who cares what search engine is used. I really think people just want an excuse to complain.

I don't get involved in this ATT has to approve this and ATT has to approve that crap. When I pay for something with *MY* $money$ I expect to be able to use it how I want to. I've been using unlocked/unbranded phones for 4yrs. I like MY phone to be MY phone.

The only thing I need the carrier for is a *signal* nothing else. I don't like the carrier interfering with something that I paid for with MY money! ! ! ! !

That is great for you. The truth is the carrier makes money on the apps and features. The carriers are always going to lock their phones and attempt to control content as much as they can (all carries). They figure all of this into the price you pay for your phone. In most cases the carrier subsidizes the cost of the phone so you get it below wholesale. Part of what you buy when you choose a carrier is their support/apps, etc. But, if you are using unlocked/unbranded phones, then what do you care? Go be free! Leave me and my Backflip alone with each other.

Ok, so I have already shown you to be a half-wit, and we all know you are pretty opinionated, but at this point you are no longer being constructive. Do you realize different people have different preferences, needs, tastes, and even budgets? I hate to break this to you, but I think the Backflip is a much sleeker phone than your beloved and incredibly out of date N95-3. You keep on talking about anything you buy has to be all yours, but tell me where you can get an unlocked phone for free, because the Backflip is available free at Walmart. You keep on bashing the phones keyboard, but yet your phone doesn't even have one. I think you have keyboard envy, maybe go seek help and let the grown ups talk...

Besides its really only a matter of time, Moto released the source code for the backflip, our friends at xda-dev will have an opened rom so you can really do what you want. And as you said, no bad for free.

I have no quarrel with the ergo's, its different, thats all, maybe a decent idea. My main bitch is they released it with 1.5, and not 1.6 or greater. This phone wasn't ment to be a high end Android phone, so comparison's to an N1 or similar are really not fair.